DREW SCOTT SWENHAUGEN

NEXT BIG THING

SO HERE’S WHAT’S BEEN GOING AROUND THE INTERNET POETRY WORLD / UNIVERSE. The wonderful poet Jennifer H. Fortin picked me to answer a set of questions regarding my current poetry project. I am thankful. Here we go …

WHAT IS THE WORKING TITLE OF THE BOOK?

Big

WHERE DID THE IDEA COME FROM FOR THE BOOK?

I’d be lying if the original idea for at least the title didn’t come from the classic Tom Hanks movie w. the same title. Like a boy stuck in a man’s body, but that’s kind of cheesy. What a cool title though. In terms of Big becoming my own poetry, well, I guess it began as a long sequence of tiny parts - biglets - and then they got really weird, and then even weirder. My grad advisor at the time liked the tone that weaved its way throughout the biglets, and suggested Big become its own character. Long story short, Big has become the ventriloquist for everything in my life, a shapeshifter, like that Keats idea - negative capability. Big has SUPER negative capabilities. Way more negative than I could get in my own life. Big goes other places. Big doesn’t live LIFE. He lives LIFEY.

WHAT CATEGORY DOES YOUR BOOK FALL UNDER?

It’s not a book, but if it were, it would fall under MIMESIS / FLOETRY.

WHAT ACTORS WOULD YOU CHOOSE TO PLAY THE PART OF YOUR CHARACTERS IN A MOVIE RENDITION?

Me or Tom Hanks. Maybe Neil Patrick Harris.

WHAT IS A ONE SENTENCE SYNOPSIS OF YOUR BOOK?

To re-iterate, it’s not a book. Maybe it will be someday. Is that the point of writing? I’m still not sure. But, ok, one sentence? You didn’t choose this lifey.

HOW LONG DID IT TAKE TO WRITE YOUR FIRST DRAFT OF THE MANUSCRIPT?

I’ve never written drafts for this. It’s one big, squirmy work that just keeps getting fatter. The more I read Kenneth Goldsmith and Robert Fitterman, the more Big changes. Those two guys are messing me up in the best way.

WHO INSPIRED YOU TO WRITE THE BOOK?

Everyone I’ve ever loved. More importantly, it’s a requirement for my MFA.

WHAT ELSE ABOUT THE BOOK MIGHT PIQUE THE READER’S INTEREST?

I don’t know. That’s a really nice question though.

WILL YOUR BOOK BE SELF-PUBLISHED OR REPRESENTED BY AN AGENCY?

I don’t know. That’s a really nice question though. In honesty, it has been a really secondary function for me to send out work. I like publishing other people’s work, because I hold it nearer to my heart than my own work. With that said, working on a project with no conceits for publishing has been very positive. It will most definitely will NOT be self-published though.

MY TAGGED WRITERS FOR NEXT WEEK ARE:

Elaine Kahn, Emmalea Russo, Richard Smith, Joseph Mains

26 Feb 2013